In photos: 'Italy Earthquake Aftermath - April 8th'

By James Wray Apr 8, 2009, 16:48 GMT

Two firefighters check the damages of the roof of one of the churches of the mountain village Sant'Eusanio, near L'Aquila, Italy on 08 Aptil 2009, after the heavy eartquake which hit the area. On the background, the Apennines covered insnow. The official death toll from the devastating earthquake in Italy's central Abruzzo region on 06 April has risen to 250, with 11 people still unaccounted for, the Minister for Relations with Parliament, Elio Vito, told the Senate on 08 April. Of the 250 dead, 17 have yet to be identified, he added. Vito said the government will soon declare a national day of mourning for the victims. Rescue operations were made more complicated 07 April evening after a powerful aftershock rocked the region and was felt as far away as Rome. A collective funeral servuce in L'Aquila will be held on 10 April . EPA/PERI-PERCOSSI

Firefighters give explanations on the damages to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (2-R) during his visit in the historic centre of the 13th-century mountain city L'Aquila, about 100 km east of Rome, Italy on 08 April 2009, after the heavy earthquake which hit the area. Berlusconi has taken a typically hands-on approach, travelling to the disaster zone every day so far and promising survivors rapid help. Other countries may help Italy rebuild cultural sites destroyed in the earthquake that hit the country on 06 April, Berlusconi said on 08 April. Berlusconi told a news conference Italy had turned down offers of immediate humanitarian aid for the victims of the earthquake, which killed 260 people according to the latest figures. However, he said he had discussed with some foreign leaders a plan for individual governments to offer to pay for the restoration of an individual church or cultural heritage site that had been damaged or destroyed. EPA/LIVIO ANTICOLI EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES/NO ARCHIVE

A couple pass by tents, sporting the words 'Interior Ministry' in the tent city organized close to the mountain village Paganica, near L'Aquila, Italy on 08 April 2009, after the heavy eartquake which hit the area. The official death toll from the devastating earthquake in Italy's central Abruzzo region on 06 April has risen to 250, with 11 people still unaccounted for, the Minister for Relations with Parliament, Elio Vito, told the Senate on 08 April. Of the 250 dead, 17 have yet to be identified, he added. Vito said the government will soon declare a national day of mourning for the victims. Rescue operations were made more complicated 07 April evening after a powerful aftershock rocked the region and was felt as far away as Rome. A collective funeral servuce in L'Aquila will be held on 10 April . EPA/CIRO FUSCO

Firefighters give explanations on the damages to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (R) during his visit in the historic centre of the 13th-century mountain city LAquila, about 100 km east of Rome, Italy on 08 April 2009, after the heavy earthquake which hit the area. Berlusconi has taken a typically hands-on approach, travelling to the disaster zone every day so far and promising survivors rapid help. EPA/LIVIO ANTICOLI EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES/NO ARCHIVES

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi wears a firefighter helmet as he embraces a survivor eledely woman during his visit in the historic centre of the 13th-century mountain city L'Aquila, Italy on 08 April 2009, after the heavy earthquake which hit the area. Berlusconi has taken a typically hands-on approach, travelling to the disaster zone every day so far and promising survivors rapid help. Other countries may help Italy rebuild cultural sites destroyed in the earthquake that hit the country on 06 April, Berlusconi said on 08 April. Berlusconi told a news conference Italy had turned down offers of immediate humanitarian aid for the victims of the earthquake, which killed 260 people according to the latest figures. However, he said he had discussed with some foreign leaders a plan for individual governments to offer to pay for the restoration of an individual church or cultural heritage site that had been damaged or destroyed. EPA/LIVIO ANTICOLI EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES/NO ARCHIVES

Firefighters give explanations on the damages to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (L) during his visit in the historic centre of the 13th-century mountain city L'Aquila, about 100 km east of Rome, Italy on 08 April 2009, after the heavy earthquake which hit the area. Berlusconi has taken a typically hands-on approach, travelling to the disaster zone every day so far and promising survivors rapid help. Other countries may help Italy rebuild cultural sites destroyed in the earthquake that hit the country on 06 April, Berlusconi said on 08 April. Berlusconi told a news conference Italy had turned down offers of immediate humanitarian aid for the victims of the earthquake, which killed 260 people according to the latest figures. However, he said he had discussed with some foreign leaders a plan for individual governments to offer to pay for the restoration of an individual church or cultural heritage site that had been damaged or destroyed. EPA/GUIDO MONTANI

A man walks amidest the tents, reading 'Interior Minister' of the tent city organized close to the mountain village Sant'Eusanio, near L'Aquila, Italy on 08 April 2009, after the heavy eartquake which hit the area. The official death toll from the devastating earthquake in Italy's central Abruzzo region on 06 April has risen to 250, with 11 people still unaccounted for, the Minister for Relations with Parliament, Elio Vito, told the Senate on 08 April. Of the 250 dead, 17 have yet to be identified, he added. Vito said the government will soon declare a national day of mourning for the victims. Rescue operations were made more complicated 07 April evening after a powerful aftershock rocked the region and was felt as far away as Rome. A collective funeral servuce in L'Aquila will be held on 10 April . EPA/CIRO FUSCO

Firefighters give explanations on the damages to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (R) during his visit in the historic centre of the 13th-century mountain city L'Aquila, about 100 km east of Rome, Italy on 08 April 2009, after the heavy earthquake which hit the area. Berlusconi has taken a typically hands-on approach, travelling to the disaster zone every day so far and promising survivors rapid help. Other countries may help Italy rebuild cultural sites destroyed in the earthquake that hit the country on 06 April, Berlusconi said on 08 April. Berlusconi told a news conference Italy had turned down offers of immediate humanitarian aid for the victims of the earthquake, which killed 260 people according to the latest figures. However, he said he had discussed with some foreign leaders a plan for individual governments to offer to pay for the restoration of an individual church or cultural heritage site that had been damaged or destroyed. EPA/LIVIO ANTICOLI PROTECTIVE REPEAT WITH RESTRICTIONS EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO SALES/NO ARCHIVE

The letters O S P E D A L E lie on the ground of the San Salvatore Hospital of the 13th-century mountain city L'Aquila, about 100 km (60 miles) east of Rome, Italy on 08 April 2009, after the heavy eartquake which hit the area. The official death toll from the devastating earthquake in Italy's central Abruzzo region on 06 April has risen to 250, with 11 people still unaccounted for, the Minister for Relations with Parliament, Elio Vito, told the Senate on 08 April. Of the 250 dead, 17 have yet to be identified, he added. Vito said the government will soon declare a national day of mourning for the victims. Rescue operations were made more complicated 07 April evening after a powerful aftershock rocked the region and was felt as far away as Rome. A collective funeral servuce in L'Aquila will be held on 10 April . EPA/PERI-PERCOSSI

The dome by Giuseppe Valadier of Santa Maria del Suffragio's church, well known as Purgatory Church or Saint Souls Church, collapsed after the earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy, on 07 April 2009. EPA/PERI-PERCOSSI

The dome by Giuseppe Valadier of Santa Maria del Suffragio's church, known as Purgatory Church or Saint Souls Church, collapsed after the earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy, 07 April 2009. EPA/PERI-PERCOSSI

A monk blesses the faithful in tent camps in L 'Aquila, Italy, that were set up for earthquake survivors, on 08 April 2009. Aftershocks have rattled earthquake-hit central Italy on 07 April, killing at least one more person and hampering the search for survivors. EPA/GUIDO MONTANI